Huskers Open Season with 7-0 Win

Las Cruces, N.M. - A late arrival in Las Cruces did nothing to slow the Nebraska softball team on Friday, as the ninth-ranked Huskers scored four times in the first inning en route to a 7-0 season-opening victory over UTEP.

Despite arriving at the team hotel less than eight hours before first pitch, Nebraska showed up ready to play from the first pitch in its quest for a second straight trip to the Women's College World Series. After UTEP was held hitless in the top of the first inning, the Husker offense plated four runs in the bottom of the frame.

Senior twins Tatum and Taylor Edwards worked back-to-back one-out walks before sophomore Hailey Decker delivered an RBI double off the top of the fence in right field. Junior Kylee Muir then produced an RBI groundout to score Taylor Edwards with the Huskers' second run. A two-out RBI single from junior Mattie Fowler pushed the lead to 3-0. Sophomore Dawna Tyson followed with a single before freshman MJ Knighten walked to load the bases. Classmate Rachel Arthur then drew a five-pitch walk of her own to score Fowler and cap the four-run inning.

The Huskers missed another bases-loaded opportunity in the fourth following consecutive singles from Taylor Edwards and Decker and a walk to Muir.

Nebraska then converted a scoring chance in the top of the fifth. Knighten reached on a one-out bunt single and stole second with two outs. Sophomore Kiki Stokes then launched a 3-2 pitch over the fence in right center for a two-run homer that gave NU a 6-0 lead. Tatum Edwards followed with a single before Taylor Edwards hit a hard line shot that ricocheted off the pitchers foot and was caught by the second baseman before hitting the ground for the third out of the inning.

The Huskers made it 7-0 with another run in the bottom of the sixth. Decker led off with a double, her second of the game. She advanced to third on a ground out from Muir and scored one pitch later on a sacrifice fly from Fowler.

That was more than enough for sophomore Emily Lockman (1-0), who fired a three-hit shutout to become the first Husker to record a seven-inning shutout in the season opener since Ashley DeBuhr in 2007. Lockman struck out six and did not allow a UTEP runner past second base.

With Lockman dominant in the circle, Nebraska featured a balanced attack offensively. Seven Huskers had a hit in the win, six scored a run and five produced an RBI. Stokes finished 1-for-4 with a homer and two RBIs, while Decker was 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and an RBI. Fowler added a pair of RBIs and Knighten was 2-for-2 with a double and an RBI in her career debut.

The win was Nebraska's 14th straight victory at the NMSU Softball Complex, while the Huskers were victorious in their season opener for the second straight year. The win also marked a milestone for Head Coach Rhonda Revelle, who won her 800th game at Nebraska, becoming the first Husker coach to reach the 800-win milestone.

Nebraska wraps up opening-day action against 12th-ranked Florida State at 3 p.m.